‘‘He’s got that kind of slouch, looking like the bored kid in the back of the classroom.’’
Maybe the divorce has him down.
"Obama rethinks US-Russia relations; Says Moscow has not moved on range of issues" by Matthew Lee | Associated Press, August 10, 2013
WASHINGTON — President Obama said Friday that he was reassessing the US relationship with Russia because of a growing number of issues on which the two countries differ, and he lamented what he called his mixed success in trying to persuade President Vladimir Putin to abandon a Cold War mentality.
Meaning Putin is refusing to go along with every element of the neo-con world domination plan.
Obama’s comments at a White House news conference just two days after canceling a planned summit with Putin next month came as senior US and Russian officials met at the State Department to look at areas in which cooperation is possible.
I didn't see it. I'm not really interested in what this president has to say anymore.
Those officials put a brave face on the badly strained ties and said the meeting produced some tangible results on the military front and on the push to forge a political solution to the crisis in Syria, among other issues.
Obama said Putin’s return to the Kremlin last year had brought about ‘‘more rhetoric on the Russian side that was anti-American, that played into some of the old stereotypes about the Cold War contest between the United States and Russia.’’
‘‘I’ve encouraged Mr. Putin to think forward as opposed to backward on those issues, with mixed success,’’ he told reporters. He said he decided not to attend the summit because ‘‘Russia has not moved’’ on a range of issues where the United States would like to see progress. He said his unhappiness with Russia granting asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden was one reason, but not the only one, for his decision.
Yeah, Obama's spying puts Stalin's surveillance to shame.
‘‘I think the latest episode is just one more in a number of emerging differences that we’ve seen over the last several months around Syria, around human rights issues where, you know, it is probably appropriate for us to take a pause, reassess where it is that Russia’s going, what our core interests are, and calibrate the relationship so that we’re doing things that are good for the United States and, hopefully, good for Russia,’’ Obama said.
What this means is Russia must be turned into an actual enemy soon so they can get the USraeli-inspired WWIII really rolling. Drone strikes in Yemen are just, aaaaaaannnh.
He added that no one could hope for 100 percent agreement and that differences could not be completely disguised. But he said US-Russian cooperation is important.
‘‘We’re going to assess where the relationship can advance US interests and increase peace and stability and prosperity around the world,’’ Obama said. ‘‘Where it can, we’re going to keep on working with them. Where we have differences, we’re going to say so clearly.’’
Obama praised trade and arms control successes that the US and Russia sealed when he was dealing with Dmitry Medvedev, former president of Russia. Obama played down suggestions that he and Putin do not get along.
‘‘I don’t have a bad personal relationship with Putin. When we have conversations, they’re candid. They’re blunt. Oftentimes, they’re constructive,’’ he said.
But, he took a shot at the often dour-looking Russian leader for his demeanor in meetings and appearances before reporters.
‘‘He’s got that kind of slouch, looking like the bored kid in the back of the classroom,’’ Obama said. ‘‘But the truth is, is that when we’re in conversations together, oftentimes it’s very productive.’’
He urged Putin to think in broad terms and not view the United States as an enemy.
‘‘If issues are framed as if the US is for it, then Russia should be against it, or we’re going to be finding ways where we can poke each other at every opportunity, then probably we don’t get as much stuff done,’’ Obama said.
Obama’s comments came shortly after Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel wrapped up talks with their Russian counterparts that were intended to try to repair some of the damage caused by the differences over Syria, Russia’s domestic crackdown on civil rights, and antigay legislation.
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